Splash screen for automobiles



n. AND fmcsow. SPLASH SCREEN FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED lIULY 23,1919.

1,41 1,612. Patented Apr4,192-.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

D. ANDV E. ERICSON.. SPLASH SCREEN FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED IuLY 23, I9I9.

l ,41 1,6 1 2. Patented Apr. 4; 1922.

Z386, JT 1 'ed Cit UNITED stares PATENT OFFICE.y

Speeication of Letters Patent.

Y Paten-ted tipi. 4, ieee.

Application nieu July ze, T919. "serial N6; 312,860. l

'fc cr/ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, DOUGLAS Ericson and limo Ericson, citizens of the United Itates anclvveden, respectively,and both residing at Cambridge, in the 'county oi' Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful improvements in a flplash Screen ior Automobiles, oi? which the following is a specification.

Uur invention relates to splash screens for automobiles, or the like, the primary `object of which is to provide a device of this character which is light in construction, easy to attach to any machine without materially altering the same, reliable in its operation, and inexpensive to manufacture.

A iiurther object ot the invention is to provide a device or' the above mentioned cli-tractor that is normally held in a set po-l sition, but is tree to yield in any direction should it be necessary.

A further object of the linvent-ion is to provide a'device of the above mentioned vcheracter that will prevent 'the splashing of mud from the rear oit the wheel, aswell as the side, thus increasingl its practicability.

A.. further object ot the invention is to provide a device of the above mentioned character that is oit' a collapsible structure,

iieiug capable of 'tolifiing into a very si'na-ll compass to lit within a tool box or other suitable place.

.i further obj ect ot' the invention is to provide 'a device o'l the Vabove mentioned character thatwhen attached to a machine will not interfere with its operation and may be quickly swung to a position to permit the removal ot the tire it desired.

A further object oi2 lthe invention is to provide a device of the above mentioned character having an improved novel means whereby the splash screen is rigidly secured in its adjusted position, thus eliminating the possiblity ot undesirable noises vusually caused by the attachment oi: accessories to automobiles. n y

Gther objects and advantages of this in vention will lbe apparent during the course of the following' description. i j

in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this speciticaton and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure '1, is a side elevationviot Athe front wheelcita vehicle showing our improvements attached thereto.'

VFigure 7, is a detailed side view of the i sii.lnaortiiig member used in connecting our improvement 'to the rear wheel of a vehicle i and Figure 8, is a fragmentary perspective view ot the adjustable rod used in connecting our improvements 'to the front' wheel of a vehicle. y

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose oi illustration we have `shown a preferred embodiment of our invention, the numeral 5 designates the wheel oi a vehicle mounted on 'the axle 6, andV vequipped with the usual spindle 7. This Wheel is oit the usual type, merely being shown for the purpose orP illustating the way in which our improvements are attached thereto. Y

The improvement above referred to consists ot a' frame 8, a section of which 8 eX- Vtends laterally along the outer sideV of the wheel and a substantial distance Vbeyond the rear edge thereof. yThis'section 8 is formed oi' two pieces 9 land l() which are hingedly connected together. as at il. Extending along the inner side of the wheel is an ad- `justable horizontal'bar l2, forming a part ot the Jtrame and also Jformed of two pieces 13 and la as clearly shown in Figure 8. The end 'of theypie'ce 13 is provided with a `pair o' spaced .Ushaped brackets l5 lforming a bearing to slidably receive the end of the piece let, thus making an adjustable connection betive'enthe pieces. These two ends are -a pertured as at 16, to receive the locking pin i7 enclosed in the casing 18 and normally held in its looked position by the tension of the spring 19 fas shown in igure t.' The 'opposite end of the piece lli 'is twisted 'as at 20, and then 'secured to the clamp 2l by rivco'mpri'ses two uprigh't'members 23 and 24 `ets or other suitable 'means 22. This clamp which extend slightly above the bars and are adapted to embrace the arm of the spindle 7 for rigidly supporting the ladjustable bar 12 in a parallel planewith the ound. The free end of the adjustable bar 12 is twisted, as at 12', and connected to the free end of the section 8- through the medium of the cross bar 26, which holds the bars in spaced relation. This cross bar is connected `to thebars 12 and `8 by the outwardly swinghin es 27.

.iti n or er that the outside section of the frame will be supported in a parallel position, we have provided a pair of oppositely extending rods 28 which are pivotally con- `nected to the pieces9 and 10 respectively. `These rods are inclined upwardly and apertured at their u er ends for attachment to the hubcap. Vigfien attaching my improve- `nient, novel hub Vcap 31 is substituted for the oneusually used and consists of a recess castingO loosely mounted within the'hub .cpl of the usual confruration, but slightly longer.l A screw threaded bolt 32 having a `tange 33 is seated within the recess 34, being `held therein by the washer 35. Seated upon the. washer 35 is a ball bearing roller'36 "equipped with a collar 37, in which the .n Screw threaded bolt 32 is journaled. To prevent frictional enga ement of the roller with the leasing, a secon washer 38 is laced on the ublt`32. The outer end of this )bolt passingthrough the apertured ends of the rods 28`which`are held in place by the Wingnut "33, said nut being locked by the link 33 which is connected to the eye screw 34. Thus ktwig, clearly obvious that Vthefframe of my Ailnproyed invention will ,be supported in a "riglid and parallel position.

`hesplashi screen or apron B4'is made fr'ornany suitable material, but preferably canvas. The screen is attached to the section 8 and cross bar 26 of the frame, through the 4medium of the S shaped hooks 35 received in the openings provided for this purpose along the up er ed e of the apron and the lower edge o the rame. This screen extends downwardly from the frame to a distancein close proximity to the ground, beiiigfheld in a substantial stationary position byfthe brace strips 36 which are inclined fu `wardly and connected to the frame by the 'brackets *37. The lower hem of the screen 38j` is provided directly opposite the wheel ,with a curved rod 39 which projects downwardly so as to eliminate any possibility of.

Imud being splashed past the screen by the wheel.Y Y

fAsshown in Figure 6, when the screen is `attached to the rear wheel of the vehicle, the "adjustable part 12 is eliminated and in lieu thereof afsupporting member 40 is substituted. This member comprises three sections` 41,"` 42, and'43, of which sections 41 and 42 are hingedly connectedrtogether by the hinge 44, and sections 42 and 43 Vby the pivot pin 4 5. The free end of the section 41 is pivoted to the cross bar 26, as at 46, while the free end of the section 43 is equipped with a pair of spaced'apart apertured lugs 47, in alinement with each other. These lugs are adapted to receive the screw threaded shank 4S which projects downwardly from the lower` clamping plate 49. A second plate 50 is joined to the first mentioned plate by the adjusting screws 51, which clamp the platesI about the spring 52 of the vehicle.

1n operation, when it is desired to attach our improvements to a vehicle, the hub cap of the wheel is removed and our novel hub cap substituted therefor which allowsr the axleof the vehicle Vto revolve without interfering with the connection of my supporting rods to the hub cap. After the supporting rods 28 have been attached as set forth in the foregoin the rod,12 is then adjusted to itsrdesire length and the clamp 21 connected to the arm 25 of the spindle 7 which allows the attachment to be moved in the direction in which the wheel is turned. `When attaching the screen to the rear wheel of the vehicle the adjusting bar 12 is eliminated and in lieu thereof a supporting bar 40 is substituted which is connected to the rear spring in the manner set forth. When not being used, the side screen may be detached from the vehicle and folded into Va small compas and placed in the tool box or other,

convenient place.A

It is to be understood that the Vform of our invention herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that certain changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resort ed to without departing from the spirit ot the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim. l

vHaving thus fully described our invention, we claim A mud guard for vehicle wheels comprising' a sectional frame extending liainetricallv across the lower portion of the wheel, sai frame having one end bent to extend. acrossthe rear and along the inner side of the wheel, a bar having one end clamped to the spindle of the wheel and its opposite end adjustably joined to the inside portion of the frame, S shaped hooks depending from the frame, an apronsuspended from the hooks having a plurality of brace strips `signatures in the Bresence ofA two witnesses.

OUGLAS ERICSON. s ERIC'ERIC'SON. Witnesses:

Emo HAGMAN, 

